Apparatus for applying filler to tape



Ma! 2 1944- w. T. cAvANAUGH' Erm. 2,348,166

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FILLER TO TAPE Filed Oct. 9. 1942 INVENTOR. WHL-rf@ 77 Cava/Muah'- GEORGE E. WER@ ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1944 2,348,166 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FILLER T TIAPE Y Walter T. Cavanaugh and George E. Viera, Oakland, Calif.

Appiication October 9, 1942, Serial No. 461,392

1 Claim.

This invention relates to machines for coating tape and particularly pertains to a machine for applying a Viscous, mortar-like mixture to a paper tape prior to applying the latter over joints between slabs of so-called wallboard, after the latter has been erected on the surface of a building wall.

As is well known and common practice, a paper tape is applied over the seam formed at the meeting edges between slabs of so-called plaster board or wallboard, after the same have been erected. Prior to the application of the tape a thick coating of commonly called mud, which is a plasterlike mixture, is applied to one side of the tape so as to ll the seam and make a flush surface at the junction of the slabs. Heretofore such application of the plaster or like substance was applied to the tape by hand by the use of a spatula. This is time consuming and very tedious work.

It is the principal object of our present invention to provide a very simple and inexpensive device by means of which a plaster-like mixture may be expeditiously and efciently applied to paper tape and the like. i

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig, l is a view in central vertical section through an apparatus embodying the preferred form of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with parts removed and in section to more clearly disclose certain features of construction, the section being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in plan disclosing certain features of construction of the apparatus, being partly in section which is taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, Ill indicates a bucket or other openmouthed container in which the viscous plasterlike mixture to be placed on the tape is contained. For use in conjunction with the container is an apparatus for feeding paper tape through the container so as to enable a coating of the contents of the container to be applied thereto.

This apparatus comprises a frame I I which includes a rectangular at platform I2 having a rectangular opening I 4 formed therethrough centrally between its side edges and between its opposite ends so as to overlie the open mouth of the container Ii). At the opposite sides of the opening I4 there are fixed two vertically extending standards I5 having bearing slots IS for receiving a mandrel Il which rotatably supports a roll of paper tape I8 of any standard or preferred type.

Fixed to the platform and depending therefrom downwardly into the bucket I to a point just short of the bottom thereof is a guide member I9 which enables the tape from the roll I8 to be led downwardly into the bucket and thence upwardly out of the bucket or container I0.

The guide member I9 includes an enclosed chute 20 which extends downwardly into the container to a point just short of the bottom of the latter. The opposite ends of the chute 20 are open and at its lower end a roller 2l is journaled with its axis parallel to the axis of the roll of tape, so that the tape may be led from the supply roll downwardly through the guide chute 2D and thence around the roller 2|. The four sidesof the chute 2B are enclosed so as to exclude the plaster mixture from the interior thereof.

We have found that due to its Viscosity the said mixture will not rise into the chute 2E) through the small clearance openings between the roller 2| and the adjacent edges of the lower end of the chute.

At the end of the opening I4 opposite the guide chute 2S is a flat guide 22 which depends on a slight angle to the vetrical to the same point with respect to the bottom of the container as the chute 26. At its lower end the at guide 22 is also fitted with a roller 23, so that the tape may be led under this roller 23 and thence upwardly through the opening I4 and thereafter along the platform as illustrated.

It is seen that as the tape emerges through the opening Iii and then is led along the platform, it assumes substantially a right angle bend. At this point along the transverse edge of the opening I4 there is positioned a scraper blade 24 arranged, of course, transversely to the 'line of movement of the tape I8, and over the scraping edge of which the tape passes and contacts as it is drawn through the bucket or container IIJ. Any plaster mixture on the side of the tape which engages the scraper edge of the scraper blade 24 will, of course, be scraped off and will drop back into the container I0.

A gauge member 25 is provided which is arranged transversely over the opening I4 just short of the scraping edge of the scraper 'blade 24 to form a rectangular throat 26 therebetween. 'Ihe tape I8 passes through this throat 25 as illustrated. The gauge member 25 is adjustable longitudinally on the platform I2 toward and away from the scraper blade 24 so that the thickness of the coating of plaster mixture on the one side of the tape may be Varied to suit the user.

In operation of the device, the heavy, viscous, plaster mixture is placed in the bucket or container l and the platform I2 is placed thereover, with the opening I4 therein overlying the container. as illustrated. In this position the guide member, which is composed of the chute 2G and the at guide 22, depends downwardly into the bucket to a point just short of the bottom thereof as illustrated. To removably secure the frame Il in this position a bottom plate 2l is arranged under the container l0 and is connected with the platform l2 by means of tension members 23. I

Prior to arranging the tape coating device on the container, the tape is led from the supply roll downwardly through the chute'2i3, thence around the roller 2| and around the roller 23 upwardly over the at guide plate 22 through the throat 2% and along the platform i2?. The tape exposed in the container receives a heavy coating or depositeofthe plaster mixture as it travels through the container toward the throat 26. As the tape passes through the throat and over the scraper blade 2li, the plaster mixture on one side thereof is completely scraped off by the scraper blade 24. The material removed from the tape drops back intothe container iii. The coating on the opposite side of the tape is spread-evenly'and gauged to a desired thickness by the gauge plate f2 5. This thickness may be varied to suit conditions by adjusting the gauge 25 toward and away from the scraper blade 24 to vary the width of the throat 26. The roller 23 is relieved at its center as at 29 so that it willV not act to remove all the mixture from the tape` when the level in lthe container lowers to a point below the `level of the center of the roller 23.

It is obvious that as the tape passes through the container in the manner described that the mixture will adhere to both sides thereof and that the mixture on one side will be removed by the .scraper blade 24Y and that the mixture on the other side will be gauged to a proper thickness by the gauge 25. Therefore, the .tapeimay be continuously moved through the device and will be properly coated until substantially all of the mixture in the container is used. By this means a proper coating of plaster-like mixture may be applied to tape expeditiously and eniciently.

If the tape is desired in certain lengths, it may be cut off each time that amount of tape has lbeen drawn through the apparatus. Thus, tape may be quickly coated for application to the seams occurring at the meeting edges of plaster board slabs.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofv the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In combination with an open-mouthed container, a frame to overlie the container and rest upon the upper open end of the container, means on the frame for rotatably supporting a roll of tape thereon above the container, 4a guide member fixed to the frame and depending perpendicularly into said' container to a point just short of the bottom thereof., roller means at the lower end of the guide member on an axis parallel to the axis of the roll of tape to enable tape from said roll to be led downwardly into the container and around said roller means and then upwardly out of the container; said guide member including a chute having four imperforate sides extending vfrom said frame above the container to a point closely adjacent to said roller means and downwardly through which' the tape is led to the roller means, said frame having a narra-w throat formed therein above the container and through which the tape is to pass as it emerges from the container, a scraper blade 'at one side of said throat for removing any mixture adhering to one side of the tape, gauge means atthe opposite side of the throat for removing any mixture adhering to the opposite side of the tapebeyond a predetermined thickness.

WALTER' T. CAVANAUGH. GEORGE E. VIERA. 

